Drip-pan signal.



H. G. TWIBELL.

DRIP PAN SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1913.

LlQSfi w Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

flafry Cjwieli HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-L!TH(7., WASHINGTON, D, r

llWlTEU HARRY C. TWIBELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DRIP-PAN SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 19115..

Application filed September 12, 1913. Serial No. 789,478.

'1 b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. TWIBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drip-Pan Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The general objects of this invention are to facilitate the removal of the drip-pan from under the refrigerator or the like,

while the said drip-pan is connected to a visual indicator; and to provide an indicator-operating mechanism which may be fitted upon any of the usual drip-pans now in use. And to these ends the invention consists of flexible means connecting the drip-pan with an indicator and indicating-operating mechanism combined with the flexible means and provided with a spring-clip for engaging the wall of the drip-pan.

Other objects will appear and be better un derstood from that embodiment of my invention of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of my invention connected to the drip-pan showing the indicator set and the pan in section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring-clip, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latch.

The indicator member generally designated in the drawings as (1, consists of an arm 5 and an attaching base 6 upon which is pivoted the arm 5 at 7. The base is provided with suitable attaching agencies 88 and is also provided with a lug 9 and a lug 10, which respectively limit the upward and downward movements of the arm.

The portion 11 of the arm is of greater weight than the opposite portion 12, and to the end thereof is fixed a blade 13 formed of suitable material such as tin, cardboard or the like. It will be seen that owing to the greater weight of the portion 11, it will drop when the portion 12 is loosened, and by virtue of the lug 10 impeding its downward movement, the portion 11 will project outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The blade 13 may be colored, if so desired, so as to be readily noticed when the arm is projecting as described.

The arm-operating mechanism consists of a clip-member 14 and a latch 15. The clip is formed of a single piece of metal and is bent back upon itself at 16. The under portion 20 is bent obliquely at 17 and the upper portion 21 is bent at 18'; by virtue of the resiliency of the metal the downwardly proecting portions 20 and 21 (see Fig. 3) cooperate to form a clip or clamp which is adapted to fit over the side wall of the drippan 19. To facilitate the positioning and the removing of the said clip the ends of the portions 20 and 21 are curved as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The upper portion 21 of the clip is provided with a pair of rip-standing and oppositely disposed ears 2222, which are spaced relatively and are provided with the apertures 23. Centrally located on the upper portion 21 is a tongue 24, which is bent up. It will be noted that the clip, with the ears and tongue is formed of a single piece of metal stamped and bent so as to form the shape shown in Fig. 3.

The latch 15 may be formed of any material suitable and the shape preferred is shown in Fig. 4. Pins are ournaled in the apertures 23 of the cars 22 and are inserted in the edges of the latch 15 at points 25 best shown in Fig. 4. This admits of the latch being pivotally mounted between the cars 23. The latch 15 is provided with a slot 27, which receives the tongue 24. Extending from one end of the latch is an arm 28 which is bent so as to form a downwardly projecting portion 29. Upon this portion 29 is mounted a float 30, which is adjustable along the portion 29 of the arm. This float can be made of any suitable material but cork is preferred, for the reason that owing to its inherent elasticity it will frictionally bind on the arm, and the use of set screws is eliminated which would be necessary if other forms of floats were used. By adjusting the height of this float any desired volume of water may be contained in the drip-pan when the arm of the indicator drops.

Connecting the arm-operating mechanism with the indicator is a cord 31, which is secured to the arm 5 at 32 and passes through an eyelet 33 mounted on the base 6. A ring 34 is secured to the cord by a knot tied therein as at 35. The knot 35 in the cord, although secure, is not permanent and the ring 34 may be positioned at any point along the cord as described.

When in operative position the arm 5' and base 6 are attached to the refrigerator as above described and shown in Fig. l. The arm-operating mechanism is positioned on the drip-pan by means of the clip and the float is adjusted according to the depth of the pan. The cord is passed under the refrigerator and the ring 34: is passed over the tongue 24:. By virtue of the pan being empty the weight of the float-arm 28 will cause the float end of the latch to bear downwardly, and it will be seen that the tongue 24 will project above the face of the latch and engage the ring whereby the arm 5 will be held in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As the height of the water in the pan 19 increases the float will obviously rise, and in rising will gradually force the ring upwardly and out of engagement with the tongue; whereupon the ring being freed the arm 5 will swing outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

What is claimed as new is:

A device of the character described comprising a support adapted to be applied to a pan, a float operated latch member pivoted upon the support, a tongue provided upon the support and disposed transversely of the latch member, and a signal pivotally mounted and being heavier at one end portion than at the-other, a cord attached to the lighter end of the signal and a ring attached to the cord and adapted to lie upon the latch member and receive the tongue.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY C. TlVIBELL.

Witnesses JOHN A. DoNneAN, G120. A. BYRNE.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

